I
realize it's not much of a picture but it's all I've got for my 'Fire n' Ice'
days. This is the first band I joined after moving to South Florida. Actually
the original lineup was called 'The Bobby Whiteshoes' band. Bobby's a nice
guy and we did plenty of fun gigs together. After Bobby left me & the
guitar player, Jimi Piro, changed the name to 'Fire 'n Ice' and off we went.
We did pretty good, had a nice repertoire of classic, pop & country tunes
and were getting great reviews. When the singer left I hooked up with 'Hunter'
and Nashville was in my sights!

THE LUSHTONES

One
of the better bands I've been associated with. I first saw these guys when
I was playing with Fire n' Ice. They used to be known as X-15 and had the
house band gig at the old Rosebuds in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. The keyboard &
guitar player on the right (John Meanor & Bill Baldwin), are both from
Pittsburgh, started X-15 and changed the name to 'Lushtones' after personnel
changes. After I joined them in 1998 it took us almost a year to find the
right drummer, Nate Stowell (left) , well worth the wait!

THE LAST CHANCE BLUES BAND

My
first experience playing in a real 3 guitar, 2 harp, 4 lead vocalist, 'nothing
but' blues band. Tommy Calandra singing, Larry Conard, Ray Penny & Steve
Volpe on guitars and Jan Forman on drums. I came up on stage to jam with these
guys one night at a little club in Massapequa, Long Island and never left.
I picked up all the songs by ear, never heard the original recordings and
never looked back. We were tight and even with 3 guitars nobody stepped on
anyone's toes. It was a comfortable unit and it showed on stage. We always
were booked and did many fine shows at the legendary 'My Fathers Place' in
Roslyn, NY opening up for acts like Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Roy Buchanen
and Kim Simmons. It truly was a fun time for all and I learned some important
lessons from the roots of Rock & Roll. (clockwise from left: Steve, Ray,
Jan, Tommy, Larry, me)

GEMINI JONES

I
pulled this picture off a video shot at 'Great Gildersleeves' in Greenwich
Village, NY. I think that was the only place besides CBGB's that we performed
at regularly. The singer, Ellen Warshaw could really belt it out and we did
some fine recordeing together. I met Ellen through a mutual friend and mentor
Keith Angelino. I grew up knowing Keith as an older more seasoned bass player
in Bayside, NY. I used to watch him rehearse, went to his gigs and always
looked up to him with inspiration. Keith later bought and ran Roxie Rehearsal
studios in Long Island City, NY. I rehearsed there with every band thereafter.
My '62 Jazz Bass, pictured, used to be Keiths which I bought from him for
$300 plus my old EB3. That was a good 25 years ago. I finally realized a dream
when I was asked to play with Keith in his band, 'The Front'. A few years
later Keith died from complications after brain surgery. I'll always miss
him dearly.